Tennessee elected officials respond to bin Laden's death

Monday, May 2, 2011 at 9:31am

Staff reports

The morning after President Barack Obama's dramatic late-night announcement that U.S. forces had killed 9/11 mastermind and former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, members of Tennessee's congressional delegation are responding.

Bin Laden, sought by the United States for nearly a decade, was shot to death on Sunday in a raid of the mansion in Abbottabad — some 35 miles from Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan — where it is believed he and members of his family had been staying.

"A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability," Obama said in a news conference late Sunday night. "No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."

As of this morning, it was reported that bin Laden's body had been buried at sea.

Members of the Tennessee congressional delegation reacted to bin Laden's death early Monday morning.

Sen. Lamar Alexander: "Our military men and women and President Obama deserve great credit for their courageous mission to bring Osama bin Laden to justice."

Sen. Bob Corker: “Osama bin Laden's death finally puts an end to an unspeakable reign of terror carried out by the man responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks and the deaths of thousands of Americans and innocent civilians around the world. We're tremendously proud of our military and intelligence services who successfully executed a dangerous operation that resulted in a major victory for the fight against terrorism. While the threats against the U.S. remain, bin Laden's death sends a powerful message to the world that we will not rest until justice is done.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper: "The death of Osama Bin Laden is a great victory in our fight against terrorism. I am thankful for all the brave men and women who fought tirelessly to help bring this man to justice. We will never forget the horrific attacks on 9/11, but hopefully this will bring some closure and comfort to those who lost loved ones nearly 10 years ago. This does not mark the end of our fight against evil, but it should serve as a warning to all those who chose to attack Americans. No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, we will find you and justice will be served."

59 Comments on this post:

What drivel.. TEN years? 20 years in two countries chasing our tails?
Iraq? Over a trillion dollars. A proud day in America?
No.

By:RTungsten on 5/2/11 at 8:13

Osama Bin Laden: World Hide And Go Seek Champion, 2001-2011.

By:revo-lou on 5/2/11 at 8:38

Seems that there is some confusion. OBL didn't have to hide the first 7 1/2 years after September 11. He wasn't in trouble until AFTER Bush left office.

By:left on 5/2/11 at 8:39

Who is the new leader? BULLSEYE

By:dargent7 on 5/2/11 at 9:17

So, bin Laden is living 35 miles outside Pakistan's capital, and no one knows he's there?
Bull sh***.
There's miltary installations and police academys all over.
He never leaves to go shopping?
Now, Hillary Clinton is praising, "our friends in Pakistan" for "their help"...?
More Bull sh***.

By:oldrog on 5/2/11 at 9:20

oldrog: The sane and competent leadership of President Obama has resulted in the death of Bin Laden, overcoming the feckless Republican leadership of the former administration that ignored actionable intelligence and let our country be attacked by terrorists supported by Bin Laden.

By:Antisocialite on 5/2/11 at 9:56

So Osama was killed during President Obama's administration huh?

WORST Muslim sleeper agent ever... am I right yogiman?

By:Cookie47 on 5/2/11 at 10:21

dargent, I sincerely hope you're not always as depressed and pessimistic as seem on here. Bin Laden is dead. Is it greatest day in our history? Of course not but it is a good day.

Cheer up, dargent. A better day is coming - the day Obama looses his re-election and we get a real president.

By:revo-lou on 5/2/11 at 10:24

{the day Obama looses his re-election and we get a real president.}

I suspect that it is you that will be crying come the first Wednesday in Nov. 2012.

By:Cookie47 on 5/2/11 at 10:50

Oh, contraire, Revo. When Obama loses, I shall be popping champagne in celebration and dancing drunkenly in the street.

As for Osama bin Laden, I've never wished death upon any man but I have read some obituaries with great enthusiasm. I can assure you, Bin Laden's has been read with great enthusiasm.

By:revo-lou on 5/2/11 at 10:54

I think you might be popping for different reasons Cookie, but we will just have to wait and see. As to wishing for death, really doesn't seem to be a bad thing in some cases, and this would be one of those.

By:TITAN1 on 5/2/11 at 12:10

WOW! But then, I don't know why I am so surprised! There are those who want to bring politics into this great accomplishment, then there are those who are never satisfied! My thanks go out to EVERYONE who had a part in the death of this scumbag!

By:dargent7 on 5/2/11 at 12:12

Cookie: Looks like you've already got a head-start on that drunken dancing.
I'm enjoying the Republican base trying to steal Obama's thunder.
Like that idiotic Dana Parino (Press Sec) said, "There have been no terrorist attacks on American soil while GW Bush has been President..."
"Well, except for 9/11, about that's it".
That's the true definition of a Republican: clinically stupid.

By:pswindle on 5/2/11 at 12:38

Thank you, President Obama for fulfilling your promise in killing Osama, and a big thank you to our brave Seals who completed the job.

By:mg357 on 5/2/11 at 12:43

Hello there D7; In all honesty folks; the credit for this must be given to the Navy Seals, some of the baddest cats around. I don't think it would be too far reaching to say that the order for Bin Laden's death came long before this current president and wasn't in need of his authority. As for closure to the families of the 9/11 families; this is an impossibility. Remember the victims on the top floors who had no chance whatsoever. This atrocity on American soil is relative to Pearl Harbor and will live in infamy......mg

By:dargent7 on 5/2/11 at 2:01

Another post attempting to discredit president Obama.
He gave the "green light", the order.
Give the guy credit.
Yes, Navy SEALs are the baddest, but sweetest guys around.
I knew two while living in San Diego, CA.
Jesse Ventura is still someone I wouldn't want to have on my bad side.

By:Cookie47 on 5/2/11 at 2:03

D7, I think it's equally funny how Obama took the credit for the mission. His speech was filled with "I" this and "I" that. Okay, I'll give him credit for authorizing the mission.

The place to get the intel was opened by Bush's order. You remember. That place called Gitmo. That little place all you liberals hate and Obama said he was going to close but realized once he got in office he couldn't.

The Navy SEALs deserve all the credit for the take down itself. Thankfully they all got out safe with the prize.

Bush deserves the credit for putting the apparatus in place to gather the intel.

As for Obama, he was just at the right place at the right time.

By:revo-lou on 5/2/11 at 2:19

Sorry Cookie, but if Obama "owns" Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, the oil spill and the current gas prices, then he sure as hell OWNS taking OBL OUT!!!!!!

By:LFCRed on 5/2/11 at 2:20

Guessing Cookie didn't read the whole thing - here's the link from the BBC with the "Thank You's" that supposedly weren't given below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13257110

"A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability ... Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who've worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.
We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day."

Having served on an LHA-class amphib assault ship w/ a SEAL team, I know first-hand they're a great group of guys; but given the often "hush-hush" nature of their profession, they prefer NOT to have the spotlight shining on them TOO brightly...

By:LFCRed on 5/2/11 at 2:34

I thought the the announcement was detail-oriented. I appreciated the President fully explaining the background involved in the decision-making process. Additionally, I would expect the C of C to give an accounting of any military venture, especially one I think is of this great magnitude. And, finally, I forgot/found another non-I "thank you" in the statement for Cookie's viewing pleasure below. I hope you enjoy it...

"Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we've made great strides in that effort."

By:Cookie47 on 5/2/11 at 2:39

Revo,

I'll be the first to admit Bush owns Iraq. We shouldn't have gone in there. We could have taken Hussein out the same way did bin Laden. I didn't agree with going into Iraq.

Afghanistan belongs to Bush as well but they deserved it for harboring and supporting bin Laden after 9-11.

The oil spill happened on Obama's watch and he did a piss poor job responding to it. There's no two ways about it.

Libya is all Obama's as well. We should have never gone in in the first place and he couldn't wait to high tail it out once he realized the American people didn't agree with it.

The current gas price situation is all Obama's. They were around $1.50-$2.00 per gallon when he took office. He has no problem with sky rocketing gas prices and has said as much.

Okay, I'll give it to you that Obama owns taking out OBL along with a big THANK YOU to GWB for putting the intel apparatus in place to help make it happen.

My thank yous go out to the SEALs and, Tim (former SEAL), if you see this, OORAH!!!!!

By:revo-lou on 5/2/11 at 2:39

Well you know LFCRed, some people (not naming any names, are we cookie) see only what they want to see.

By:Cookie47 on 5/2/11 at 2:44

LFCRed,

See message to Revo. You'll simply have to accept the fact I and a lot of others have no respect for Obama.

A HUGE THANK YOU to the SEALs and an "Atta boy to Obama." He FINALLY did something right. There's a first time for everything.

By:Cookie47 on 5/2/11 at 2:51

You and your liberal friends are good ones to be talking, Revo.

I'll admit my lack of respect for Obama clouded my judgement. He's an IDIOT and the worst president in our history. That being said, there were more than a few times y'all let your blind, white-hot hatred of Bush cloud your judgement. Now, can you and your buddies admit the same about Bush? I somehow doubt it.

By:trtay2004 on 5/2/11 at 3:24

Cookie - be an American instead of a Republican. You're embarrassing to our country. Go live with Bush and Chaney (the only person who really benefitted from all these wars).

By:revo-lou on 5/2/11 at 3:41

All my friends are repubs.

I stood with Bush everytime he said we need to stand as a nation, because, good or bad, he was our president. I took him to task when he screwed up, which was often. Bush may not be a bad person, but, he was not a good president.

By:Cookie47 on 5/2/11 at 3:58

Revo,

If what you say is true, I'll admit again I was wrong in not giving Obama profs for getting OBL. I, too, took GWB to task when he screwed up and I think going into Iraq was a screw up. We had no business going in there. That being said, GWB was a far better president than Obama could ever dream of.

trtay2004, I'm not a Republican. I'm a Conservative.

As for your second commit, your panty-waste liberal option means absolutely nothing to me. You questioning my patriotism is completely and totally laughable. I know where I stand. I stand with the Constitution you and your kind have tried to trample. That includes Obama. Okay, he did one good thing. He authorized a mission that went off flawlessly. The fact that it went off flawlessly had nothing to do with you, me, or the jackass in the White House. It was due to 24 very brave Navy SEALs. OORAH to the SEALS and you can go straight to hell.

By:nashtnman on 5/2/11 at 4:42

Now cut all aid to Pakistan, the bastards knew he was there, they knew we wanted him yet they lied to everyone and supported his efforts. When will the ignorant people in this country wake up and realize our own government is selling us out? Trillions of dollars to scum like Pakistan, Israel, Jordon, Iraq and every other country that funnels money into a congressman’s pocket is draining us faster than our illegal immigration problems. It is sickening that we cannot care for our own elderly because our spineless, corrupt elected officials bestow more rights and money on illegal, law-breaking immigrants then our own elderly and children. The whole system is FUBAR’ed and the ignorant-ass voters, mostly liberal, are the cause.

By:mg357 on 5/2/11 at 4:47

Amen cookie; At the risk of repeating myself, the big O is on the sidelines here. Remember the pirates; 3 Seals, 3 perfect shots in unison? Like I said; these guys are some bad dudes. There has been a hit on Bin Laden since 9/11 and the best of the best completed this mission..........mg

By:Captain Nemo on 5/2/11 at 7:29

It has been a long time coming and Ben Laden is dead. The question I ask is why did the US government take our eyes off Osama and go after Saddam? Why have we taken the long road to this day?

By:TITAN1 on 5/3/11 at 4:48

Captain Nemo, I'm just glad both scumbags are no longer on this earth. I have no questions, because it doesn't matter.

By:HokeyPokey on 5/3/11 at 5:29

I thought we did away with the 9/11 mastermind when we hanged That Saddam?

HP

By:TITAN1 on 5/3/11 at 6:28

HP, I don't remember anyone saying that.

By:VUGuy on 5/3/11 at 7:42

Just ignore fools like Cookie. Obama could have saved his children from a raging fire and this dude would be throwing insults his way. Some people stick with ideology over reality. Conservative over country. But that's okay, people like him will prove to be marginalized during the next election when Obama wins a second term.

By:VUGuy on 5/3/11 at 7:44

"It has been a long time coming and Ben Laden is dead. The question I ask is why did the US government take our eyes off Osama and go after Saddam? Why have we taken the long road to this day?"

For the "THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH!" crowd, this is what Bush really deserves credit for. Taking his eye off the prize to avenge Daddy's honor in Iraq. A situation we as taxpayers will pay for for generations. Thanks President Bush!

By:HokeyPokey on 5/3/11 at 7:51

Well, then, TITAN1, why did we go after him and get him kilt?

HP

By:TITAN1 on 5/3/11 at 8:21

Weapons of mass destruction ( no we didn't find them but I know some brave soldiers who were there and said they had no doubt he had them), murderer, dictator, all of the above and more. This world is much better off without those two coward scumbags.

By:Cookie47 on 5/3/11 at 10:21

VUGuy,

You're right I can't stand Obama but I admitted he deserved credit for getting OBL. Unfortunately, that's the only thing he's done right.

Let me make something perfectly clear, I vote for and support the person who is going to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I'm in no way a Kool-Aide drinking robot for either party. I don't tow the party line like liberals do for the Democrats. I, unlike liberals, can think for myself. I give a damn where this country is going and, in my humble opinion, Obama is leading this country down the wrong path. Okay, he did one thing right but that in no way changes the fact he's still a horrible president in EVERY other thing he's done to this country.

LET ME MAKE SOMETHING ELSE PERFECTLY CLEAR, VUGuy. I COULD CARE LESS THAN A TINKER'S DAMN WHAT LIBERAL MORONS SUCH AS YOURSELF THINK OF ME OR MY OPINION OF OBAMA. HE'S AN IDIOT THAT MADE HIMSELF USEFUL FOR ONCE IN HIS MISERABLE ADMINISTRATION. YIPEE!!! YAHOO!!!!

OORAH!!! to the brave SEALs, the REAL HEROS of this mission. To Obama, good presidential authorization. Way to go there, Big Guy.

By:revo-lou on 5/3/11 at 10:55

Cookie, your assumptions tells us more than you may have wanted. You tirade tells us more than we wanted. Your best bet is to seek some therapy.

By:Cookie47 on 5/3/11 at 11:30

Let me guess, Revo. You think I need therapy because I don't agree with you. You'd be surprised to know there's a lot of people that don't agree with you so perhaps it's you that should seek a good therapist.

I could care less than a tinker's damn what you or anyone else on here thinks of me. You are welcome to berate me all you like but it's not going to change the fact that the man you support is the worst president in this country's history.

Lets face it, Revo. If it had been Bush who got OBL, you'd be screaming because OBL was killed. Why? Because it happened on Bush's watch. If it happened two years from now when we have a real American in the White House, a conservative Republican, you'd be screaming because OBL was killed. You liberals want it both ways and you can't stand it when someone calls you on it. I'm calling you on it.

By:revo-lou on 5/3/11 at 11:51

No cookie, I think you need therapy because of the way you present your opinions.

I hoped with great might that Bush would get OBL, and that what OBL did and represented would be squelched. But, alas, that was not to be because of the Bush family ties to the OBL family. You know very little about people, liberal or otherwise, and it is readily apparent in your post. You can “call me” on anything you want, but my post and my positions are very easy to understand, their truth stands as is.

And it does appear that you are a bit confused if you think that Obama will not be re-elected and/or that there is a “true conservative” candidate to run, let alone win, against Obama.

By:Cookie47 on 5/3/11 at 12:19

Once the euphoria of OBL's assassination wears off, Revo, Obama will go back to business as usual - destroy the Constitution, higher taxes, high gas prices (over doubled from when he took office), even higher taxes, high unemployment, vacations that the already strained tax payers pay for.

If you think the American people don't see all that's going on, you truly are the one who needs therapy. The American people are in no way as blind as liberals and Obama Kool-Aide drinkers like to think we are. But that's okay. You keep living in your little dream world, Revo. I have a feeling it shall be I who is celebrating the day after the 2012 elections.

By:VUGuy on 5/3/11 at 12:23

"If it happened two years from now when we have a real American in the White House, a conservative Republican, you'd be screaming because OBL was killed. You liberals want it both ways and you can't stand it when someone calls you on it. I'm calling you on it."

My, aren't we presumptuous. You're mad at people for words they've never said or hinted at. You're speaking for others, then getting angry at the words you created yourself.

You need to realize that not everyone puts their party over their country as you appear to do so. "a real American in the White House"? Yeah, you sound totally impartial and right down the middle.

I don't see why anyone should be labeled as a liberal in this thread. Disagreeing with a conservative drone like yourself doesn't make one a liberal.

You'd rather see Obama fail than America succeed. And I bet you call yourself a patriot. HA!

By:VUGuy on 5/3/11 at 12:36

It's a real shame that the Osama bin Laden had filled some Americans with sadness. They'd rather this mad man go unpunished than see Obama get the credit. Sad.

By:revo-lou on 5/3/11 at 12:42

Well let’s examine your post cookie.

Obama has done nothing to dismantle or disregard the Constitution. Not one thing.

Higher taxes. No, I don’t think so. In fact our taxes are at an all time low. Now, they may go up, which is required to actually live in a society, but we all know how you feel about that.

High gas prices? What was your complaint against Bush when the prices where run up under his watch? My guess would be that it is out of his control, which was the comment made by so many Bush supporters/conservatives.

High unemployment. Yes, it is high, but it is being addressed. The major problem is that a lot of the jobs that went away are not coming back, mostly in the automotive and manufacturing arena. So, that means hat Obama’s administration will have to create new venues for those people, something that you and yours are fighting against tooth and nail. Of course, have the cons in this country scream that the government isn’t supposed to be creating jobs, it is not their place. Go figure.

Vacations. Petty little thing, aren’t you?

By:VUGuy on 5/3/11 at 12:53

Edit: the killing of Osama bin Laden.

By:Cookie47 on 5/3/11 at 1:16

Not presumptuous, VUGuy. It's the liberal playbook. And I'm not mad at anyone, especially liberals. I pity foolish, ignorant people who can't think for themselves. It's sad really. And just so you know, the "real American" remark had nothing to do with Obama's birth certificate or if he's a citizen. I happen to belief he is and at this point, it really doesn't matter. However, I do think he's a Marxist who wants to destroy this country.

It's God, family, then country, Vandy. Party doesn't even enter the picture. I vote for the right person and Obama sure as hell isn't the right person. No, I'm not impartial. I'm VERY partial to freedom, the Constitution, and the American way of life where we are all free to do as we please without the constrains of a huge, over-bearing government taxing the living hell out of us. Why aren't you? I'm not a drone, Vandy. I'm just an American that hates to see what this president is trying to do to this country.

Since Obama wants to destroy the country I love, then in a word, yes, I would like to see Obama fail. The way I and a lot of Americans see it, if Obama fails, America succeeds. And, yes, I proudly call myself a patriot. If you truly cared about this country, you'd be able to do the same. However, if you support Obama, you're anything but an American patriot. Yeah, I said it. I'm questioning your loyalty and patriotism to this country if you support Obama. He may have been born here but he's anything but an American and he's certainly NOT a patriot.

And to your last post, I've never wished death upon any man but I have read some obituaries with great enthusiasm. OBL's is one of them.

By:Cookie47 on 5/3/11 at 1:48

My taxes are higher, Revo. I guess I'm one of the ones paying more than my fair share and I don't like it. Just remember, this is America and I am still allowed to dislike something my government does.

Gas prices when W left office - $1.61. Google it if you don't believe me. $32 would look a lot better at the pumps than the $75 I'm having to pay now.

High unemployment is being addressed by the government....... by hiring more and more people into the public sector rather than cutting taxes to help create jobs in the private sector thus making it harder for small businesses to stay in business much less hire people.
Once we have more people taking a salary FROM the government than we have paying taxes TO the government and less and less taxes are generated, how will the government sustain itself?

On vacations, I can see the man taking a couple due to the stress of being president but six? Seven? In one year? Come on, Revo! Even your elitist mind should say, "That's too many!"

By:revo-lou on 5/3/11 at 2:14

My taxes (effective rate) stayed the same as last year, as it does most years. My taxes went up some, but mostly because I lost a write off.

Fair share? We live in a society. Those that you step on, on the way to your job, maybe the very ones that provide your income. This country does not survive if those that are in need are ignored. If you don’t understand that, then it will bite you in the a$$.

As to gas prices, please compare apples to apples. My comment was and is about when the gas prices WENT UP UNDER BUSH’S watch. Got that now? We have no idea what they will be when Obama leaves office. But, again, what was your statement when people blamed Bush for the 6+ months that fuel prices were going to, at, or above $4.00 a gallon? You can get back to me on that one, but I suspect I already know the answer.

The cut taxes to raise job rates mantra is BS and you know it, or you should. In case you didn’t realize, that tax rates that we have, have been in place for almost 8 years now. It would seem that that would be more than enough time for your theory to work, keeping people employed. Period. Please go back to your econ101 notes for some refresher points. The jobs are disappearing for one reason, and one reason only. They are not in this country anymore. They were placed in other countries to help get MORE money flowing for those looking to maximize the current LOW tax rates.

I don’t care if Obama takes a vacation every other day. He earns it having to deal with nuts like you day in and day out.